The Fundraising Authority

DECEMBER 10, 2022

Other times, we talk to our donors through newsletters, e-mails and snail mail letters. Also included in this group of stories are volunteer stories, told by volunteers about why they give their time to your non-profit, and what they have seen while working out in the field. Rule #4: Ask Open Ended Questions.

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Story Work Fundraising Storytelling 350

Whole Whale

AUGUST 13, 2020

Volunteering has always brought people together in service of a common cause but now we must do this online due to COVID-19. There are more people than ever stuck at home and ready to work, the question is how to engage them? Here are some ideas to make the most of volunteers online: Data/Image Projects. Engage More Volunteers.

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Volunteer Virtual Ideas Script 69

Volunteer Hub

SEPTEMBER 16, 2021

Paul’s Place is using VolunteerHub to create a streamlined, efficient, and optimized volunteer program, focused around building relationships. Founded in 1982 by two volunteers from St. In order to reach mission, Paul’s Place utilizes the support of thousands of volunteers per year, assisting across all programs and services.

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Place Volunteer Baltimore Communication 76

Get Fully Funded

JANUARY 9, 2022

There are lots of details to think through and lots of questions to answer. To get started, answer these six questions. You see, lots of fundraisers wear people out: you, your volunteers, and your donors. Ask friends, family, and current and past volunteers. Donors who send a check can be kept informed via postal mail.

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Structure Question Fundraising Calendar 122

DipJar

AUGUST 6, 2021

Volunteers have the unique capability to bolster your organization and generate excitement and engagement within your wider community. Volunteer work often contributes to greater long-term sustainability because it can provide a reliable source of support during challenging times. . Volunteer Recruitment. Volunteer Engagement.

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Volunteer Program Management Retention 98

Eric Jacobsen Blog

MARCH 5, 2024

New Year's Resolutions for leaders : Don't micromanage Don't be a bottleneck Focus on outcomes, not minutiae Build trust with your colleagues before a crisis comes Assess your company's strengths and weaknesses at all times Conduct annual risk reviews Be courageous, quick and fair Talk more about values more than rules Reward how a performance is achieved (..)

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Mentoring Policy Review Technique 96

Nonprofit Tech for Good

APRIL 3, 2022

A CTA is an invitation to take action, such as donating, volunteering, signing up for something, signing a petition, pledging to do something, etc. Be familiar with every fundraising program, event, campaign, and activity so you can tell others (sustainers, major gifts, events, direct mail, giving circles, etc.). your neighbors.

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Fundraising Mail Law Donation 352

Pamela Grow

AUGUST 2, 2023

Multichannel without question. And, according to ANA/DMA, “Direct mail still pulls a higher response rate than any marketing medium.” Direct mail and digital work side by side to ensure your best campaign. For direct mail, always think package, not letter. Where do you begin? Review your data with an eye to segmentation.

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Free Fundraising Mail Nonprofit 88

The Fundraising Authority

DECEMBER 4, 2020

Answer all of these questions and design a theme for your year-end giving campaign that you will use consistently throughout your 3-6 week year-end fundraising effort. Send out a dedicated e-mail to your e-mail list introducing your year-end campaign, without making an ask (see this as a “cultivation / stay tuned!”

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Fundraising Phase Mail Gift 201

Bloomerang

OCTOBER 16, 2023

Host a thank-a-thon Put simply, this is when you gather a group of volunteers (preferably board members) to call and thank donors. Your donors are touched when they hear from a leadership volunteer taking (unpaid) time from their busy day just to say thanks. Your voice mail or email? Why board members, you ask? Much lower!

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Gift Script Phone Voice 99

Eric Jacobsen Blog

DECEMBER 13, 2023

Don't micromanage Don't be a bottleneck Focus on outcomes, not minutiae Build trust with your colleagues before a crisis comes Assess your company's strengths and weaknesses at all times Conduct annual risk reviews Be courageous, quick and fair Talk more about values more than rules Reward how a performance is achieved and not only the performance (..)

Mentoring 80

Mentoring Policy Technique News 80

The Fundraising Authority

DECEMBER 30, 2020

Here are a few questions: Is this truly a fundraising event? Question what type of event and elements are a good fit for the target attendees. ’” Ditto for your event volunteers. Purpose of Your Fundraising Event: Before doing anything else, you must decide what the purpose of your event is. Or does it have other goals?

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Guide Fundraising Hosting Charity 247

Association Analytics

SEPTEMBER 22, 2021

A number or “score” is assigned to a member based on how they interact with your association, e.g., attend meetings, take classes, participate in your community, volunteer, read your content. For example, most associations find members don’t volunteer or donate before they have seen value from other activities like courses or publications.

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Aggregator Associations Activities Active 169

Tech Soup

JULY 16, 2014

TechSoup has partnered with LinkedIn to provide the TechSoup community with free postings on LinkedIn's new Volunteer Marketplace. What Is the Volunteer Marketplace? The Volunteer Marketplace connects nonprofits with skilled professionals via volunteer postings. Sample postings on the Volunteer Marketplace.

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Linkedin Volunteer Skills Sample 67

Bloomerang

MARCH 10, 2023

Our Ask An Expert series features real questions answered by Claire Axelrad, J.D., They may seek volunteer opportunities your organization can offer. How many people are on your mailing lists? – – Charity Clairity Have a question for our Fundraising Coach? Please submit your question here.

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Grant Homeless Proposal Foundation 110

Bloomerang

FEBRUARY 2, 2024

Our Ask An Expert series features real questions answered by Claire Axelrad, J.D., Here are questions you can ask yourself and your team to go through a similar exercise. Do you wait for the mail to arrive? Where does the mail go first? I even offered to volunteer at one of the places! Where do checks go first?

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Donor Exercise Gift Charity 87

NonProfit Hub

JUNE 20, 2016

Now it’s time to build a direct mail piece that has the same outcome. But even if you have the best offer, there’s much more that goes into a direct mail piece to make it effective. Step One: Understand Direct Mail. Start by checking out these general tips from one of our favorite direct mail experts.

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Mail Headline Action Mind 34

Get Fully Funded

MARCH 16, 2021

Direct mail is a valuable fundraising strategy, but figuring out how to send a nonprofit appeal can be confusing. You’re just mailing a letter asking for a donation, right? And SO many questions that need answering before you start. Recruit volunteers to stuff and stamp hundreds of envelopes? Should you use a mailhouse?

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Results Mail Nonprofit Money 98

Bloomerang

OCTOBER 14, 2022

Our Ask An Expert series features real questions answered by Claire Axelrad, J.D., Today’s question comes from a nonprofit employee who wants advice on the best fundraising strategy for new nonprofits. . Dear Unsure, Your question is epic, and can’t be answered quickly. — Unsure where to start. Human Resources.

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Place Fundraising Articulate Charity 87

The Fundraising Authority

DECEMBER 24, 2020

An astute reader e-mailed me after the article was published to remind me that I forgot one important piece of the puzzle: stewarding donors after they give. Before going on, let’s answer the question, “What does it mean to ‘steward’ a donor?” Using newsletters, e-mails , videos, podcasts, websites, non-ask events , etc.

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Donor Profit Participatory Relationship 177

sgEngage

MARCH 22, 2022

But first, let’s compare how the major communication channels of direct mail versus digital communications play a role in donor retention. Direct Mail versus Digital Communications . A prevailing myth in the nonprofit sector is that traditional mail has been phased out by the internet.

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Retention Communication Donor Strategy 94

Bloomerang

APRIL 5, 2021

I recently asked 100 fundraisers this question and almost half said they recruited their absolute best donors from prospecting with board members, staff, volunteers and stakeholders. 7 questions to ask yourself before investing in acquisition . Invite your board, staff, volunteers, and key stakeholders to suggest prospects.

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Donor Mail Gift Files 102

CauseVox

MARCH 1, 2024

Communication Preferences: Which groups of donors like to be communicated with via email, social media, direct mail, or phone calls? Your survey may include questions around: Demographics : Age, gender, location, occupation Background: Why are they interested in your cause and what led them to get involved?

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Audience Donor Survey Demographics 82

Bloomerang

FEBRUARY 20, 2024

Specific personalization When sending an appeal letter, thank-you note, or email to a donor, always include a note at the bottom and say something about the impact their gift has made and something very specific about their kids, dog, family, home, job, favorite sport, hobby, alma mater, volunteer work, or latest travel adventure.

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Experiment Donor Script Delicious 75

Nonprofit Tech for Good

MARCH 28, 2020

These are questions with unpredictable answers, making time savings and flexibility more crucial than ever. Eliminate Mail-In Registration Forms. This is especially important with members of your team and volunteers more likely than ever to be working remotely in the time leading up to your event. Will venues be open?

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Time Technology Fundraising Sponsor 286

Get Fully Funded

JUNE 14, 2023

Here are the most common communication channels nonprofits use and what types of messages they work best for: Direct mail. Direct mail is best suited for older donors who may be less technologically savvy. Ask yourself the following questions about your donors’ giving histories: What amount did the donor give? Phone call.

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Communication Personal Donor Nonprofit 59

Bloomerang

DECEMBER 21, 2021

When you read the story aloud, ask your coworkers and maybe even some volunteers to listen to it and provide feedback. Do they want a written appeal in the mail? In order to do that, look at your story and ask yourself questions like: Does this story make sense to tell at a certain time of year ( end-of-year giving season , etc.)?

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Storytelling Help Measure Audience 109

Eric Jacobsen Blog

DECEMBER 13, 2020

Don't micromanage Don't be a bottleneck Focus on outcomes, not minutiae Build trust with your colleagues before a crisis comes Assess your company's strengths and weaknesses at all times Conduct annual risk reviews Be courageous, quick and fair Talk more about values more than rules Reward how a performance is achieved and not only the performance (..)

Mentoring 98

Mentoring Policy Technique News 98

Bloomerang

AUGUST 28, 2023

Be sure your nonprofit CRM can create both: Letters and mailings. Design and save direct mail communication documents like solicitations and acknowledgments. Similar to direct mailings, make sure you can create and save templates for your nonprofit’s emails. Engaging emails. Finalize your top options.

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Profile Software Nonprofit Donor 91

Bloomerang

MAY 15, 2023

Are you using one master email list that includes your monthly donors, volunteers, everyone who’s ever made a gift at any level, people who attended your annual event once, and people who signed up to get your emails on your website? This boosts engagement and response rates and helps create authentic relationships.

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Data Gift Relationship Interaction 92

Bloomerang

JUNE 7, 2021

loyal donor for a period of years; current board or committee member; active direct service volunteer; enthusiastic user of services). You can organize this as a live or virtual phonathon and enlist your board and other volunteers to help. I like to call first-time donors who made an above-average first-time gift. or “ You did it!

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Action Strategy Donor Calendar 137

Bloomerang

MARCH 10, 2023

Our Ask An Expert series features real questions answered by Claire Axelrad, J.D., They may seek volunteer opportunities your organization can offer. How many people are on your mailing lists? – – Charity Clairity Have a question for our Fundraising Coach? Please submit your question here.

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Grant Homeless Proposal Foundation 53

Bloomerang

AUGUST 7, 2023

If they made an offline gift, mail a personalized thank you letter within 48 hours. Consider an invitation to an upcoming free event; list of volunteer opportunities, and perhaps a token gift that will not be perceived as expensive (e.g., Some organizations send this to their entire mailing list annually or biannually.

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Gift Donor Time Mail 70

Nonprofit Tech for Good

DECEMBER 13, 2018

Get started by answering the following questions: Based on traffic sources, how are visitors finding our website? Test it out and see whether it would inspire confidence from a new supporter by focusing on the following questions: Are people sent away from your website to make a donation? Growing your mailing list.

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Websites Nonprofit Guidelines Phone 255

Bloomerang

AUGUST 11, 2023

Our Ask An Expert series features real questions answered by Claire Axelrad, J.D., an administrative assistant; program director, volunteer coordinator, or anyone who has good verbal skills and enjoys connecting with people) to better target and close mid-range gifts that would raise huge dividends.

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Analytics Donor Gift Database 63

EveryAction

NOVEMBER 9, 2022

If email or mail appeals are a part of your GivingTuesday strategy, segmenting your audience could make a big difference for return on investment (ROI.) Make sure your staff, consultants, and volunteers know how much organizational leadership appreciates their contributions. Segment your audience. Contact them here!

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Gift Consultant Audience email 207

Qgiv

AUGUST 9, 2023

Day 5: Send a mailed thank you note (consider handwriting the note or having your executive director sign the note for a personal touch). Day 50: Send another piece of mail to let donors know what their gifts helped fund. Day 2: Call the donor to say thank you. Day 10: Send an email newsletter. Day 20: Send a feedback survey.

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Relationship Donor Gift Retention 52